Development of an Hearing aid Ingress tester

Objective:

To enhance the capabilities of our Hearing Aid Ingress tester for the purpose of hearing instrument reliability testing.

 

Who are we?

Sonion is a global supplier within the Hearing Aid Industry. The Sonion Group develops, manufactures, and sells product solutions to customers who manufacture hearing instruments and other acoustic solutions. Sonion Nederland B.V (Sonion NL) is the main R&D centre within transducers and modules, but Sonion NL also has sales supportive activities such as Application Engineering, CQS and administrative support functions. Sonion has facilities in Denmark, the Netherlands, Vietnam, the Philippines, USA and China, wherefrom our (more than 6000) colleagues work together across all locations.

 

Background

Sonion NL serves as the primary research and development hub within the Sonion Group, spearheading technological and design advancements for products within the hearing health and professional audio sectors. Through collaboration with various departments, including Research and Development, New Systems, and Quality Assurance, we strive to enhance our current reliability testing capabilities.

Currently, to assess product reliability in the face of wax ingress, we utilise an Hearing Aid Ingress tester that operates on a CNC platform and simulates the repeated insertion of a hearing instrument (HI) into the ear. Although effective, we aspire to elevate the performance of the machine and conduct a comprehensive evaluation and calibration by comparing the HEARING AID INGRESS TESTER to real-world observations.

The project’s scope is flexible and can be tailored to the student’s background and expertise, potential areas of focus may include:

 

Research aspect:

• Conducting a study to provide scientific support and validation for the Hearing aid Ingress test device
• Documenting the findings and preparing comprehensive instructions for future operators.
• Improving the synthetic wax used in the HEARING AID INGRESS TESTER to enhance the accuracy and realism of the testing.

 

Engineering challenges:

• Upgrading the program by designing a basic user interface to improve usability and functionality.
• Adding acoustic functionality to detect HI sound blockage as a result of wax buildup.
• Creating a “universal” coupler that can accommodate various types of hearing instruments for more comprehensive testing.
• Further refinements and upgrades to more elaborate failure modes

 

Required technical competences

• You are a Bachelor’s or Master’s student in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial design, or other applied science discipline (University or HBO).
• You are able to effectively communicate technical information and write comprehensive technical documentation in English.
• You have a good understanding of research methods.
• You possess basic knowledge of 3D CAD packages (such as SolidWorks).
• Ideally, proficient in one or more of the following areas: basic programming, 3D printing/CNC platforms, acoustics, hands on prototyping.

 

Who are you?

• You are a quick learner who is able to take on challenges and develop new skills.
• You are result-driven and focused on achieving project goals efficiently and effectively.
• You pride yourself in being proactive in identifying potential issues and in finding solutions.
• You feel comfortable thinking outside of the box and exploring innovative approaches to problem-solving.
• You are able to demonstrate a hands-on approach to work and enjoy collaborative environments with a diverse team of people with varying backgrounds.

 

 Our offer

Of course, we offer an internship allowance of EUR 500,- per month. More importantly, we offer you a work environment that gives you the opportunity to steadily further develop. In this project, you will get a lot of responsibility and chances to use your knowledge in the field. You and your supervisor will regularly reflect on your work. Sonion is an international and inclusive organization where it is easy to connect with colleagues. So, where are you waiting for? Apply now!  

 

Further information and application

You are welcome to contact The People & Culture department at jobsatsonionnl@sonion.com for further information about the position. Please send your application in English to jobsatsonionNL@sonion.com